The premise held promise: a refined historical film recounting the life of Georgiana (Keira Knightley), who found herself in an unfulfilling union with the rich and powerful Duke of Devonshire (Ralph Fiennes). She’s essentially reduced to a status not unlike that of a breeding animal, despite possessing a considerable amount of self-reliance, which naturally leads her into a romantic entanglement with Dominic Cooper,…

This is a visually impressive period film, though it does have some problems when it comes to accuracy and historical detail. Georgiana Cavendish, born Spencer, was an exceptionally interesting and charismatic figure in British society during the late 1700s. She married the 5th Duke of Devonshire, a very wealthy and powerful peer, which was considered a fortunate match for the time. However, they were fundamentall…